Happy 142nd Canada!
Posted July 1, 2009 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Happy Canada Day, Toronto!
July 1st is the one day a year we officially celebrate what makes us Canucks.
And while that could mean being a Nigerian taxi driver working on his masters thesis in law or a wheat farmer in Saskatchewan, we do have one thing in common. The country we call home is – despite its obvious flaws – a pretty darn good place to live.
Canadians young and old, recent and established, were beaming with pride in Toronto.
Spirits were also high at the CHIN Picnic – watch the video below to take a look at the festivities.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a Canada Day message in which he reflected on a tough past year while noting the country has fared better than most during the worldwide economic downturn.
“We celebrate the most peaceful, prosperous and enduring democracy the world has ever known. We reflect on the wisdom of our ancestors who built this great land. And we give thanks to those brave Canadians who risk their lives to defend us, here and around the world,” he said.
“We must never forget that our country, our way of life, did not happen by accident. We are a product of diverse peoples committed to common values, a country that cherishes freedom, democracy and justice, a country proud of our past and confident in our future.”
Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean singled out Canada’s youth in her birthday wishes.
“In every city and every community, from Moncton to Fort Simpson, Rankin Inlet to Montreal, Vancouver to Trois-Rivieres, young people are redefining our world in a spirit of greater solidarity,” she said in a statement.
“These youth, whom we relegate far too often to the future, as though they have nothing to offer the present, are in fact, day after day, our most powerful antidote against inaction and indifference. So let us salute our youth and stand not behind them, nor in front of them, but with them in our shared desire to explore every possibility between us and in each of our lives.”
While the civic workers strike has put a damper on some Canada Day events in the city, there is still a lot going on.
Find out where you can watch fireworks here.
With files from the Canadian Press
Photo by Robert Giroux/Getty Images
What’s Open And Closed On Canada Day/Events And Fireworks Displays
How Much Do You Know About Canada? Take This Quiz And Find Out
